Tunisia: new arrivals in the transit camp of Choucha Ras Djir, situated eight Km from the Tunisian border with Libya. People continue fleeing violence in Libya. Credit: UNHCR/A.Duclos

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened a meeting of UN agencies and regional organizations to discuss a coordinated approach to the humanitarian situation in and around Libya. He intends to appoint a special envoy responsible for coordinating the relief effort.

On 3 March 2011, several countries sent planes to evacuate people from the congested Tunisia-Libya border. The UN Resident Coordinator in Tunisia said there is need for further rotations of planes and other means of transport to relieve the reception areas. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 170,000 people, mainly migrant workers, have left Libya to date.

The OCHA-led joint UN rapid assessment reported little evidence of destruction between the Egyptian border and Benghazi. However, the fuel supply line from Tripoli has been cut and there are concerns over the implications of increased lack of fuel, food and medicines.

According to the Financial Tracking Service, $35.6 million has been contributed thus far, and donors have pledged a further $10 million in response to the crisis.